diff --git a/improvements.md b/improvements.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f712aa1c --- /dev/null +++ b/improvements.md @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +# Games that could easily be improved + +Beta or nearly mature games that are unfortunately inactive often can be improved a lot with relatively little effort. +The same is true for mature games with a few unfortunate bugs or other shortcomings. The common trait is that they could +be much better with doing relatively small adjustments. This would include bug fixes, additional content/scenarios/maps, +additonal game modes or options, tweaking of the game mechanics. Play testing and summarizing bug reports are a way of +indentifying possible candidates. + +Please add or modify entries in the alphabetically sorted list below. Change the update date accordingly. + +## [Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup](entries/dungeon_crawl_stone_soup.md) + +The game is complete and very active actually. I am not aware of any problems. I played countless hours with it. The only +bugs I reported were minor text-related ones that were fixed quickly. It's definitely not in “beta” anymore. The problem +is more a psychological one: There's no version 1.0. The developers just outright refuse to ever release a version +named “1.0”. This is evil. They are making themselves smaller than they should be. DCSS should just release 1.0. +Never underestimate the psychological power of just calling your release 1.0. + +Last update: 2019-11 + +## [Cubosphere](entries/cubosphere.md) + +Honestly, I have no idea why Cubosphere 0.3 beta is not called 1.0 already. Spent countless hours playing it, huge amount +of levels. But the main dev disappeared a long time ago. Should probably need to look at bugtracker. But sadly doesn't +quality as “true” FOSS because many textures are just “randomly grabbed off the Internet” (said the developer), so that's +certainly a copyright problem. + +Last update: 2019-11 + +## [Hedgewars](entries/hedgewars.md) + +Actually this is on 1.0.0 already (so low priority IMO). But I feel singleplayer mode could need more content. +There already is a healthy amount of content, but the difficulty is all over the place; more content could balance that out. +More campaigns, missions, challenges, that stuff. There is a large documentation about how to add these things. +Lots of smaller ideas are in the bugtracker. + +Last update: 2019-11 + +## [OpenArena](entries/openarena.md) + +OpenArena 0.8.8 is basically finished, but the main menu is buggy and in-game there are some weird (but harmless) warning +messages about missing sounds. Complete this. AFAIK this was dropped in favor of developing OpenArena 3 which seems to be +a full graphical overhaul but I have no idea bout its progress and didn't hear news for years. OpenArena 3 also seems to be +almost like a fork. So it makes sense to bring OpenArena (the original) to 1.0.0, independently of OpenArena 3. + +Last update: 2019-11 + +## [Pingus](entries/pingus.md) + +Pingus 0.7.1 is a fully playable game, has lots of levels, but with poor structuring of levels. The game has a main story +line that starts on “Tutorial Island” but it ends right there. Tutorial Island has a hand-painted level selection screen. +Other level set's don't have that. The other levels are pretty unstructured and don't continue the story. There are +a few level sets, but a lot of user levels are only accessible through the level editor and very chaotic. + +Completing Pingus would require restructuring the way how you select levels and making all levels more accessible to play. +Basically, make the whole level selection more logical. Another idea I had was to even drop the main storyline and maybe +even the special Tutorial Island screen (at least for now) and just put everything into simple level sets/level lists +just to make “releasing 1.0” easier. It's highly unlikely we'll find an artist to draw grapical selection screens for +every level set anytime soon. + +Last update: 2019-11 + +## [Stunt Rally](entries/stunt_rally.md) + +This is very very mature (way beyond 2.0) but also has some important issues: 1) Various non-free textures that await +replacement (sadly, not trivial at all). 2) Trees sometimes intersect pipes. 3) Multiplayer should be playtested more. + +Last update: 2019-11 + +# Games suitable for replacing proprietary artwork by free artwork + +Idea is to have more games under completely open code and content. The license status of the artwork should be cleared +and artwork with unknown or proprietary license (including artwork under a non-commercial license) should be replaced by +open content. Games where this task is rather easy or popular games, where the task is worthwhile are preferred. + +Please add or modify entries in the alphabetically sorted list below. Change the update date accordingly. + +## [Stunt Rally](entries/stunt_rally.md) + +[List of questionable artwork](https://forum.freegamedev.net/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=6911) + +Last update: 2019-11